Sunlight, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, open windows, these are all signs that summer is here. Although most of us are anxious for warmer weather, is your home ready?
Keeping your home comfortable and cool during these hot months can cost you a fortune when not monitored properly. To avoid your energy bills from going through the roof, here's a checklist to follow this summer.
1. Seal all windows and doors
Do you ever experience days where your AC is cranked to the max and every ceiling fan is blowing, yet your home doesn't seem to cool down? Often times, this cool air escapes your home through hidden cracks and gaps between windows and doors without you even realizing it!
If this seems all too common, make sure to inspect such areas for any drafts that may be coming through. It's recommended to have a professional come in and test the efficiency of your windows and doorways to ensure all areas are covered.
If gaps are found, a professional can easily air seal problem areas immediately. You'll end up saving money and energy in the long run!
2. Close all blinds, shades, and curtains throughout the day
Sunlight shining through your window can be a beautiful sight to see, yet an expensive one too. Leaving your curtains and blinds open all day with the sun shining through can significantly heat up your house.
Make sure you have dark, sun blocking shades closed during hot summer days in order to keep your home cool. If you're looking to see some sunlight, step outside for a bit to get some direct vitamin D. Then you can step back into your cool, refreshing house when it becomes too much!
3. Reduce oven, dryer, and dishwasher usage throughout the day
Dryers, ovens, and dishwashers emit a pretty significant amount of heat without you even realizing it. When trying to cool your home throughout the day, running these appliances can counteract your efforts, making your air conditioner work twice as hard.
Keep the daytime use of these appliances to a minimum to save energy. Running such appliances in the evening hours will benefit more when the sun goes down and the air outside gets cooler.
4. Install LED lights
By limiting the amount of sunlight that shines through your home, you'll need an affordable, more energy efficient way to brighten up rooms without warming it up. Lucky for you, LED lights are the perfect solution!
LED lights are being insulated more than ever now due to the energy they save compared to other light bulbs. LED lights are cool to the touch, making them great for homes looking to stay cool in the summer. They're also super affordable and can easily be found in stores as well as online.
Make the switch to LED lights and you'll actually see the difference!
5. Turn fans off when exiting a room
A common mistake made by homeowners is leaving appliances plugged in and turned on when exiting a room. Like when we leave the TV on or the ceiling fan running.
You may think it will help keep that room cool, but it is just wasting precious energy on space no one is occupying. This waste of energy can easily be avoided by making a habit out of hitting the off button when leaving.
6. Adjust your thermostat
When everyone leaves the house for the day, there's no need to keep your AC blasting at its normal temperature. It's recommended to set your thermostat a few degrees higher throughout the day to save on energy. A cool home won't be needed until people are in it.
Make this an everyday habit before leaving the house for the day. You'll be surprised at how much money and energy you'll slowly save!
Start saving money and energy today!
If you're interested in seeing what home energy upgrades can truly benefit you and your wallet, contact a HomePro Match professional today. They can schedule a home energy audit and recommend personalized energy upgrades based on what your home needs, no more or less. This not only saves you money and energy but also assures you don't overpay on work you don't need.
Keep the following tips in mind this summer when wanting a cooler, more energy efficient home. The environment and your wallet will thank you.